Constructive Deconstruction

Drumming kids

June 27, 2007 on 11:46 pm | In videos | No Comments

Here’s a video of some local secondary school kids at Raffles City I caught while out with Steph a few weeks back…

Growing up

June 27, 2007 on 3:57 am | In Reflections | 3 Comments

Growing up is a bittersweet thing isn’t it? On one end it leaves you empowered to do more…yet on the other, it introduces responsibilities to your seemingly small shoulders. Today I was reminded that I, this weak little self, am growing up.
I woke up to an sms of someone asking me for my address because another friend of mine needed to send me her wedding invitation. For my friends who read this, Adilah(aka ‘lalat’ back in the good ole days of IRC), is getting married in september. I also have a friend who’s registering over at ROM next week.

These are people who used to copy homework, bitch a hell lot about teachers and just tried to destroy the world in as many fun ways as possible. And now, here they are, making a commitment to spend their lives with another person. Yes, people from my generation have reached this stage of their lives.

Meeting Ivan reminded me of this coming-of-age even more. When I met him for dinner, there he was with his folder storing his policy papers which he’d have to read before actually writing a policy paper for submission himself. Look here world. My friend, the one I used to bitch with(and still do) and play CS during the exam period, and do so many childish things with is writing policy papers. Making a change in something that will affect how things work here in our island.

Mid-way through my coffee with him, an old secondary school friend of mine called to tell me that she too has joined the workforce. Honestly, she joined some financial institution doing financial consulting and was wondering if I could spare her some time for her to tell me what she’s doing and perhaps get my feedback on how she can improve. I know that she’d probably pitch something to me. And I also know that before I even meet her next week, I’m already not interested in buying anything. But yes, I will want to tell her how she can improve and perhaps see how I too can help her make progress. That’s one thing i’d like to do to support her. That’s one more thing to remind me that the world has become real.

It’s harsh realities will start to eat into the minds and hearts of the people that used to walk alongside myself. Some people like Jasmine, who’s still the gutsiest girl i know, are starting to get comfortable where they are(Jas: if you’re reading this, wake up! wake up! i’m going to make sure you don’t settle for anything less than what you are! And Ivan’s going to do the same! I told him liao). And as I write this, i’m thinking of people like Janine and Chonghan who are probably medical interns - people who are probably already actually treating people and making a difference in saving lives…and have probably seen more deaths than many of us have too.

We’re not kids anymore.

Yes.
To both the people from my generation and to those older than us…We. Are. Not. Kids. No. More.
To the former, wake up. Don’t live in that shell of yours thinking that you will be safe from the world. Don’t step out telling yourself you’ll be whatever the world wants you to be either.
To the latter, it’s time you listen to what we have to say. it’s time you teach us what you know, and then learn to let go. That way, when you’ve imparted your experience to us, we would both be ready to move into the next phase of leadership.

Truth is, we’re next in line in society. We hold the key to the future. We need to grasp that opportunity and make a difference. If not to the world or country. To make a difference in our families and in the lives of those who will come after us.

I know I make it sound like it’s a lot of responsibility to bear. It is.
…and I’m scared too.